“We are disappointed but I think that we did a very good job with 10 versus 11 – we played with spirit, with heart,” said Ancelotti. “I took a risk with three players coming on at half-time. It was a new line-up for us and sometimes it doesn’t work, but in second half it was better.”

Rovers boss Sam Allardyce is recovering from heart surgery. Temporary boss Neil McDonald said: “It didn’t deserve to go to penalties, we had the chances to win it before then. But Paul Robinson has made two fantastic saves in the shoot-out and we’re through, it’s great. We have come on strong and deserved to come through.”